Punjab, Jan 17: With the principle that access to healthcare should not be determined by income or geography, the Punjab Government launched Aam Aadmi Clinics as a statewide network of neighbourhood health centres aimed at delivering free and quality medical services close to people’s homes. Over time, these clinics have emerged as the first point of treatment for lakhs of residents, reshaping how primary healthcare is accessed across the state.
Punjab has established hundreds of Aam Aadmi Clinics spread across villages, towns and urban neighbourhoods, ensuring that both rural and urban populations benefit from easily accessible medical care. A significant concentration of these clinics has been set up in villages, reducing the need for residents to travel long distances for basic treatment and routine check-ups.
Inside an Aam Aadmi Clinic, patients receive a wide range of services at no cost, including doctor consultations, essential medicines and diagnostic tests. The clinics treat common ailments such as fever and infections, while also providing maternal healthcare services for pregnant women and administering free anti-rabies injections. From routine blood tests to pregnancy check-ups, the facilities cater to everyday healthcare needs that often go unattended due to financial constraints.
Thousands of patients visit these clinics daily, many of them daily wage workers, elderly citizens and women who previously delayed or avoided treatment because of costs. One patient described the impact by saying that earlier hospital visits were avoided due to expenses, but at the clinics, treatment is free and doctors take the time to listen.
The state government continues to expand the network, with more Aam Aadmi Clinics under construction to ensure that every locality has a facility within easy reach. The expansion is aimed at preventing delays in treatment and strengthening the primary healthcare system at the grassroots level.
The growing network has also contributed to easing pressure on larger hospitals, lowering out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, promoting early diagnosis and improving overall public health outcomes. For many families, especially expectant mothers, the clinics have removed a significant financial burden by offering free tests and medicines close to home.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has repeatedly emphasised that healthcare is a fundamental right rather than a privilege, stating that Aam Aadmi Clinics are meant to ensure that every Punjabi can seek treatment without worrying about money. As a model of decentralised and accessible healthcare, the initiative highlights how simple, local clinics can play a transformative role in strengthening a state’s public health system.
